|
|
LA
MIRADA PUBLIC SAFETY
LASD CITY OF LA MIRADA PUBLIC SAFETY
PARTNERSHIP
Crime
Prevention And Suppression Programs
|
|
|
|
Public
Safety
District
Attorney
City
Prosecutor
Probation
Department
Neighborhood
Watch
Beat
System
Bicycle
Safety Rodeo
Business
Watch
|
|
Ham
Radio Volunteers
Crime
Analysis
Community
Wide Gang And Drug Task Force
Positive
Alternatives
Recreation
For Kids (Park) Program
Property
Enhancement Program
Prosecution
Task Force
Public
Safety Center
Red
Ribbon Activities
|
|
Introduction:
La Mirada enjoys one of the lowest crime
rates in the region. Crime has dropped by more
than 37 percent in La Mirada during the last seven
years, and the number of Part 1 crimes is lower
than it has been in more than 10 years. La Mirada’s
low crime rate is attributable to strong partnerships
between the community and its Public Safety team.
This partnership is coupled with the City’s
commitment to community based, problem solving
policing and aggressive crime suppression and
property enhancement efforts. Personal
responsibility for ensuring La Mirada remains
a safe and desirable place to live, work, and
play rests with everyone in the community. Efforts
to increase community involvement in crime prevention
programs have been expanded. The "Beat Program"
teams Special Assignment Deputies with Public
Safety Officers to serve as a liaison and resource
for neighborhoods. These teams make regular contact
with residents and businesses along the "Beat"
to resolve concerns, conduct neighborhood watch
and crime prevention presentations, and participate
in neighborhood activities. It
is the community’s goal that individuals
be held strictly accountable for their actions.
Cooperation between the local courts, the District
Attorney, and the City Prosecutor help to ensure
that individuals are held accountable. Resources
from throughout the community are coordinated
to focus on specific problems. Information sharing
and cooperation enables the Public Safety team
to identify particular needs and provide necessary
resources to resolve problems. The
low crime rate is directly attributable to the
strength of its community partnerships. The mutual
trust and support existing between law enforcement,
residents, businesses, schools, community based
organizations, and government agencies fosters
a teamwork approach to resolving crime and nuisances.
Public support, multi-agency partnerships, the
"Beat Program", and high quality crime
prevention and suppression programs have secured
La Mirada’s place as one of the safest and
best maintained cities in Los Angeles County.
La
Mirada’s Public Safety team is centered on
law enforcement services provided through a contract
arrangement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department. An extensive network of support is
provided by Public Safety Officers, the City Prosecutor,
the District Attorney, Probation and Parole Officers,
Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch volunteers,
and the volunteer HAM Radio Officers. The
team works with residents and businesses to identify
and resolve crime problems and encourages active
public participation in crime prevention efforts.
Sheriff’s Department Law enforcement services
are provided by contract with the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department. Additionally,
a five member Special Assignment Team proactively
addresses gang, juvenile, and narcotics activities.
Special assignment deputies coordinate with the
general law and traffic enforcement teams, detectives,
and Public Safety Officers to develop information
necessary to resolve ongoing crimes and nuisances.
back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Public
Safety
Public
Safety Officers
|
|
The
Public Safety Officers handle routine reports,
traffic control at collision scenes, fingerprinting,
parking enforcement and assist in preliminary
crime scene investigation and containment. An
average of 35 percent of the total calls for law
enforcement service are handled by the Public
Safety Officers thereby enabling Sheriff’s
personnel to spend more time on proactive patrol
and enforcement. The Public Safety Officers are
familiar with City programs and services and make
referrals to a variety of human and social services
programs. Additionally, Public Safety Officers
coordinate the Positive Alternatives education
programs, Positive Alternatives and Recreation
for Kids (PARK), Neighborhood Watch, Business
Watch, and other community education efforts.
|
| back
to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
District
Attorney
Cristine Albanese
back
to top
|
|
One of the newest additions to the City’s
Public Safety team is a Deputy District Attorney.
Under this arrangement, La Mirada contracts with
the County of Los Angeles for a Deputy District
Attorney through the Strategies Against Gang Environments
(SAGE) and Heightened Enforcement and Targeting
(HEAT) Programs. Using a target approach to crime
suppression, the Deputy District Attorney assists
field deputies, probation and parole officers
in identifying problems, developing enforcement
strategies, and preparing search warrants and
crime reports. The Deputy District Attorney ensures
that the courts and prosecuting attorneys are
aware of the City’s position regarding specific
cases
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
City Prosecutor
Chandra
Spencer
|
|
The
City Prosecutor’s Office works with the City’s
Public Safety Officers assigned to municipal code
enforcement and with Sheriff’s Deputies to
prosecute violations of the La Mirada Municipal
Code.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
|
Probation Department
Darryl
Harris
|
|
The
City contracts with the Los Angeles County Probation
Department for the services of a juvenile and
Adult Probation Officers. This service enables
the City to provide a high level of supervision
for all offenders. The Probation Officer monitors
the activities of formal and informal probationers,
works with the City’s law enforcement team
to reduce crime and delinquency, and conducts
presentations for community organizations.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
|
Neighborhood
Watch
|
|
Through
the Neighborhood Watch program, Public Safety
Officers teach volunteers techniques to protect
themselves, their family, and their community
from crime. Monthly newsletters provide information
on crime prevention and criminal activity as well
as upcoming public safety events and safety tips.
La Mirada is committed to meeting the changing
public safety needs and expectations of the community.
La Mirada’s proactive approach to addressing
public safety concerns has led to the implementation
of many unique crime prevention, intervention
and community outreach programs. The City has
also developed a variety of laws intended to find
permanent solutions to problems.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Beat
System
|
|
La
Mirada’s "Beat Program" is designed
to enhance the responsiveness of law enforcement
and public safety services, and to encourage increased
community involvement in crime prevention and
public safety programs. The Program utilizes the
community based policing aspects of the traditional
patrol beat system without restricting enforcement
efforts. Each area has both a sworn and non-sworn
officer assigned. The combination of sworn and
non-sworn officers enables the team to identify
and resolve crime and nuisance activity. The teams
work to clear up code violations, and provide
crime prevention and safety training. Sheriff’s
Deputies and Public Safety Officers coordinate
efforts and share information received from the
community.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
|
Bicycle Safety Rodeo
Bicycle
Deputies
|
|
The annual Bicycle Safety Rodeo features a simulated
"neighborhood" with sidewalks, crosswalks
and working traffic signals and railroad crossings.
Instructors provide information on traffic and
bicycle laws. Participants then ride through the
"neighborhood" to identify potential
safety hazards and safe moves. Bicycle safety
inspections and licensing are available
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
|
Business
Watch
|
|
Recognizing
that La Mirada’s quality of life is attributed
to its balance of quality housing and viable business
community, a Sheriff’s Deputy and Public
Safety Officer are assigned to work directly with
businesses in the City. The team focuses on businesses
in the industrial area and maintains open lines
of communication between the City and businesses.
Armed with information on City programs and services,
the Public Safety Officer and Deputy personally
contact businesses to determine ways La Mirada’s
Public Safety team can work in partnership with
local businesses to improve safety.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Ham
Radio Volunteers
|
|
More
than 35 HAM Radio volunteers perform routine surveillance
of potential crime situations, provide communication
services in emergencies, and assist in providing
security at community events. Volunteers play
an important role in ensuring public safety, and
the team encourages active involvement in crime
prevention and suppression efforts.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Crime
Analysis
|
|
The
City’s Public Safety Officers input crime
reports into a database on a daily basis. Monthly
crime reports track the type of crimes, location,
and suspect and victim information. The crime
reports are distributed to the public safety team,
and statistical information is shared with Neighborhood
Watch groups, HAM Watch volunteers, and community
based organizations.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
|
Community
Wide Gang And Drug Task Force
|
|
A Community wide Gang and Drug Task Force meets
monthly to identify and discuss youth related
crime trends, and develop cooperative efforts
to reduce gang and drug violence. Representatives
of local schools, churches, businesses, social
services agencies, law enforcement officials,
the District Attorney’s Office, courts, and
recreation officials participate in the task force.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Positive Alternatives
10
Week
Instructional Program
|
|
The Positive Alternatives gang and drug education
program is a ten week instructional program conducted
by the Public Safety Officers in Kindergarten
through Sixth grade classes in public and private
schools in La Mirada. More than 4,000 youth participate
in this program each year. The program helps build
self esteem, good decision making skills, and
conflict resolution techniques. In the middle
and high school age classes, Public Safety Officers
and Sheriff’s Deputies distribute a Teen
Survival Guide while meeting with students in
small group settings. The Teen Survival Guide
provides useful information on issues facing teens
and includes a list of human and social services
agencies specializing in teen related concerns.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Recreation
For Kids (Park) Program
|
|
The
messages presented in the gang and drug education
program are reinforced at the City’s free
after school recreation program, Positive Alternatives
and Recreation for Kids (PARK), held at Foster
Road Elementary School, Eastwood Elementary School,
and the Community Gymnasium. Due to the overwhelming
success of the program and need for increased
indoor facilities, the Foster Road and Eastwood
sites will be relocated to City parks in the next
year. Approximately 250 youth participate each
day.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Property
Enhancement Program
|
|
Recognizing
that poorly maintained properties invite crime
and vandalism, the Public Safety team works with
property owners to ensure the proper maintenance
of residential and commercial properties. Through
the Property Enhancement Program, residents are
encouraged to work in partnership with the City.
The goal is to preserve property values and ensure
La Mirada remains a safe and desirable place to
live, work, and play.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Prosecution
Task Force
|
|
The
City, Sheriff’s Department, Public Safety
Officers assigned to code enforcement, District
Attorney, and the City Prosecutor meet monthly
to identify issues in the community. The task
force directs enforcement and prosecution efforts
to resolve problems. Each member of the team is
responsible for working with community groups,
residents, and businesses to encourage the exchange
of information and crime reporting.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Public Safety Center
|
|
Located
in the La Mirada Theatre Center, the Public Safety
Center provides convenient access to safety services
seven days each week. Services provided include:
routine Sheriff reports, fingerprinting, bicycle
and animal licensing, crime reporting, code enforcement,
and parking.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
Red
Ribbon Activities
Taking
a Bite Out Of
Crime With McGruff
|
|
Red
Ribbon activities are coordinated by the City’s
Public Safety Officers and held annually at La
Mirada’s elementary and middle schools. Designed
to promote awareness of the problems caused by
drug use and combat increasing use among students,
the Red Ribbon activities feature Sheriff’s
deputies and City Public Safety Officers discussing
the negative impacts of drugs and gangs. Deputy
McGruff, the crime fighting dog, leads students
in songs and cheers to promote a healthy lifestyle,
and students perform musical routines to reinforce
good decision making skills, self respect, and
esteem. Red Ribbon rallies encourage students
to participate in positive alternatives. An annual
Public Safety Fair provides residents with the
opportunity to meet Public Safety officials and
participate in demonstrations and activities.
In 1999, the average response times to requests
were: emergency assistance, 3.7 minutes; priority
calls, 6.89 minutes; and routine calls, 19.2 minutes.
It is anticipated that the average response times
will continue to decrease as deputies make expanded
use of the Public Safety Center and travel less
frequently to the Norwalk Station located outside
of the City. Additionally, new public safety staging
and office facilities, which are expected to be
completed in 2001, will further reduce response
times.
|
|
back
to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
